Jesus, speaking to his disciples, made a reference to dwelling
places in heaven.
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4
Since we are physical beings in heaven, we take up physical space.
Jesus could be referring to actual rooms with four walls or generally
to “space”, saying he’s making room for us.
If we think of heaven as a “city”, then cities have apartments and
rooms to live and sleep.
The idea of mansions does not fit into God’s theology (this verse
is usually interpreted from the King James as mansions, but really means more
like a room).
If some people have bigger houses than others, wouldn’t that
create jealousy or pride? Why would God give people huge houses that they will spend
all their time inside, isolating themselves from others? Or, why give them big
houses if they will spend all their time outside, serving others and praising
God?
That’s a waste of “space.”
What would we put in our mansions?
Wouldn't we have to fill those rooms with "stuff"? Chairs, tables, sofas, couches...what about
greed and covetousness? We don’t take
stuff with us because we don’t need stuff.
Just God.
In ancient times, the father built a house and added on rooms when
his family grew.
Heaven is God the Father’s house. We could occupy rooms in that
house, built right off His holy dwelling, side-by-side, interacting with one
another for eternity, kind of like a giant apartment building.
The expression Jesus used was meant to communicate intimacy more
than an actual space.
Jesus was saying, "I'm going to prepare a place for you where
my father lives so we can all hang out together forever. So don’t worry. I’ll make room for you."